Passenger Trains > SEPTA to miss another Silverliner IV deadline

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- SEPTA is set to miss another federally regulated deadline
related to its Silverliner IV cars. This time, the transit agency says it's a parts issue.

SEPTA says it doesn't have enough thermal wire to finish the installation on all 223 of its cars,
after it says it believes it bought the entire stock of the product in North America.
The federal government had given SEPTA until December 5 to install the wires, but
SEPTA says it will not be penalized for missing this deadline since there's no supply.

For riders, however, this means several more weeks of a smaller fleet, as cars are
not permitted to return to service without the wires.

"Delay after delay after delay," said Teri Gensel, who rides the Warminster line.
She says she tried to take the train into work this morning, but gave up.
"I've been taking SEPTA my entire career, and it's the worst I've ever seen it," she said.

She says her train was canceled for mechanical problems, the latest in what she
says has been months of delays, cancellations and overcrowding on the service.
"I feel like it's even dangerous on the ride home in particular, everyone is so packed in.
If something were to happen, everyone is standing on top of each other," she said.

SEPTA is still dealing with a smaller fleet, and getting every car back in service has
been delayed again because of this supply issue.

"As far as we know, we've bought all of the available thermal wire in North America,"
said SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch.

Per Federal Railroad Administration orders, SEPTA has been installing thermal wires on
all 223 of its Silverliner IV cars. The wiring is supposed to detect a fire risk and stop the cars
before it's too late.

"The wire that we need to finish this is about 39,000 feet of wire," said Busch.

SEPTA is about 7,000 feet short and is going to have to wait another week or so
to get that shipment.

"We're not going to be in violation of the FRA's order because it's a supply issue, it's
out of our control," said Busch.

SEPTA says about 90 cars are still being repaired or waiting to have wires installed.

Riders who rely on SEPTA say they're anxiously waiting for Regional Rail service to return to normal.
"This week is better. I'll say that," said Reginelli.

As SEPTA works to get more cars back in service, help is coming. It leased 10 rail cars
from Maryland that are expected to arrive at 30th Street Station on Friday.

https://6abc.com/post/septas-silverliner-iv-repairs-delayed-due-wire-shortage/18249348/

Had the FRA not told them to require rewiring,there would be plenty available, because SEPTA would not have lifted a finger while the SL4's kept self destructing in flames. Then they wonder why the Legislature hates them.

Posted from Android

it seems that"thermal wire" is another name
for high temperature insulated wire,
 when I hear something like this, I think of fusible link wire used in automobiles.